ABOUT PORTLAND FASHION WEEK
SINCE 2002 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK HAS STRIVEN TO CREATE A FASHION-BASED BUSINESS WITH A NETWORK OF DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL RESOURCES SUPPORTING EMERGING DESIGNERS.
THROUGH ANNUAL EVENTS, PORTLAND FASHION WEEK BRINGS TOGETHER DESIGNERS, MODELS, MEDIA, STYLISTS, CITIES AND COUNTRIES IN SUPPORT OF THE WORLD FASHION COMMUNITIES. UTILIZING A PERCENTAGE OF PROCEEDS, PORTLAND FASHION WEEK ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS BENEFITS LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL CHARITIES AND SUPPORTS THE EDUCATION OF FUTURE FASHION VISIONARIES.
PORTLAND FASHION WEEK, THE SUNDANCE™ OF FASHION WEEKS, IS THE 3RD OLDEST FASHION WEEK SERIES IN THE UNITED STATES, TIME ™ MAGAZINE’S “BEST INDIE FASHION WEEK IS THE USA SINCE 2012, AND THE ONLY CARBON NEGATIVE FASHION WEEK IN THE WORLD AS OUTLINED BY THE HUFFINGTON POST. FROM TOP OF THE LINE ECO-CHIC FASHION EXPERIENCES TO OUR SUPPORT FOR THE LOCAL FASHION COMMUNITY AND COMMUNITY AT LARGE, IT’S NO WONDER PORTLAND FASHION WEEK IS ON THE “TOP 100 THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE” PORTLAND BUCKET LIST.
FOR A BIT MORE ON THE CITY OF PORTLAND PROPER MAYBE FOUND ON THIS PAGE.
TO LEARN ABOUT OUR LIFETIME OF SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES AND HOW WE FOLLOW THE CFDA’S GUIDE TO SUSTAINABLE STRATEGIES CLICK HERE.
AT OUR START IN 2002 OUR EXECUTIVE PRODUCER WAS TOLD BY A CERTAIN SOMEONE THAT PORTLAND PROPER WAS “18 MONTHS BEHIND THE FASHION CURVE” BUT JUST SHORT 18 MONTHS LATER THAT SAME ACCLAIMED FASHIONISTA STATED WE WERE THE CURVE!
THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND PORTLAND FASHION WEEK IS THE PHILOSOPHY OF “SLOW FASHION”. THIS REVOLUTIONARY PERSPECTIVE IS FOUNDED ON THE IDEA OF NON-IMPULSIVE BUYING AND USING AWARENESS AS THE BASIS FOR UNDERSTANDING THE QUALITY AND VALUE OF CLOTHING AS WELL AS ITS ORIGINATION.
THEREFORE, PORTLAND FASHION WEEK BELIEVES THAT SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES, INCLUDING: REDUCING, REUSING AND RECYCLING, WILL FULLY ENCOMPASS ALL OF THE AFOREMENTIONED VALUES ASSOCIATED WITH SLOW FASHION. THIS STANDARD, PORTLAND FASHION WEEK HAS ADOPTED IN ALL ASPECTS OF PRODUCTION, COMMUNITY SUPPORT, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, AND DESIGNER SELECTION. THANKS TO THESE PHILOSOPHIES WE’VE HAD MORE PROJECT RUNWAY ALUM SHOW AT PORTLAND FASHION WEEK THAN LA AND NY COMBINED.
BACK IN 2005 WHEN WE STOOD ALONE PROMOTING “GREEN FASHION” WE WERE AT FIRST RIDICULED AND MOCKED WITH MIRTH AND DERISION. THEN WE WERE PASSIVELY LOOKED AT WITH A NOVEL INTEREST. SOON AFTER WE WERE ACTIVELY NOTICED AS THE WORLD BEGAN TO CATCH UP, AND FINALLY WE BECAME LAUDED AS THE BRILLIANT INNOVATORS AND VISIONARIES OF THE WORLD FASHION STAGE.
WE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS PROMOTING THE PLUS-FASHION TREND WHERE WE WERE AT FIRST PUSHED BACK AGAINST, TARGETED WITH MIRTH AND CRUEL WORDS AND RIDICULED EVEN BY TWO OF OUR OWN FORMER ‘‘PRODUCERS’’ WHO ACTUALLY TOLD TO OUR EXECUTIVE PRODUCER TOD HUNTER FOULK TO ‘‘JUST STOP IT’’ WHERE SHOWCASING PLUS SIZED FASHION WAS CONCERNED!
OH HOW FAR THE WORLD FASHION COMMUNITY HAS PROGRESSED AND TIMES HAVE CHANGED:
DURING THE ENSUING 2 DECADES WE HAVE BEEN DECLARED TIME MAGAZINE’S BEST INDIE FASHION WEEK; HAVE BECOME CRUELTY FREE, PLASTICS FREE AND CARBON NEGATIVE; SHOWCASED A HALF DOZEN PROJECT RUNWAY WINNERS; CO-HOSTED JAPAN’S LIVING TREASURE NORITAKA TATEHANA’S PRESTIGIOUS FIRST EVER ART OPENING IN THE USA; FOUNDED AN ANNUAL GOLF TOURNEY AND SCHOLARSHIP FUND; ANNUALLY SUPPORT OUR LOCAL HOMELESS SHELTER; BECAME AN OFFICIAL SOLV AMBASSADOR AND “GREEN STREET STEWARD” OF OUR CITY; WERE RECOGNIZED BY THE PRESTIGIOUS COUNCIL OF FASHION DESIGNERS OF AMERICA WHERE WE SHOOK UP THE ENTIRE US FASHION INDUSTRY WITH OUR PROGRESSIVE AND ETHICAL BUSINESS MODEL AND CODES OF CONDUCT; PLANTED A FOREST BRINGING BACK A CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SALMON; AND WE ARE EVEN CHARTER MEMBER MENTORS OF THE US STATE DEPT. “YOUNG LEADERS OF THE AMERICAS INITIATIVE”.
HOWEVER WE FINALLY FEEL VINDICATED WHEN READING THE RECENT HARPER’S BAZAAR STORY ON THE 2020 BAFTA ATTENDEES ‘‘DRESS CODES’ REGARDING SUSTAINABLE FASHION’.
AS THEY USED TO SAY….. “WE CAME A LONG WAY BABY”….BUT WHAT MIGHT WE BRING TO THE FORE NEXT?! WE KNOW! WE KNOW! AND YOU WILL TOO, VERY SOON!
We've come a long ways.......
2002 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK BECAME THE 3RD OFFICIAL "FASHION WEEK" IN THE USA AND ONE OF THE 1ST FEW IN THE WORLD.
VETERAN'S DAY OF 2002 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK INITIATES OUR ANNUAL CLOTHING DRIVE. NOW ACTIVE FOR 22 YEARS.
MARCH 18, 2002 THE FIRST PORTLAND FASHION WEEK FINALE' IS HELD AT THE PORTLAND ART MUSEUM.
SEPT. 22, 2003 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK IS HELD FROM PIONEER COURTHOUSE SQUARE.
2005 VOGUE MAGAZINE LAUDS PORTLAND FASHION WEEK'S FORESIGHT FOR BEING THE 1ST FASHION WEEK IN THE WORLD TO SHOWCASE BOTH SUSTAINABLE APPAREL AND PLUS SIZED APPAREL FROM THEIR OWN DEDICATED NIGHTS AND FROM THE SAME SERIES.
2005 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK WAS HELD FROM THE TOP 44TH FLOOR IN THE CITY’S TALLEST BUILDING.
2005 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK BECAME THE FIRST FASHION WEEK TO SHOWCASE A COLLECTION FROM A CITY HALL.
2006 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK LAUNCHES A HAND CRAFTED SUSTAINABLE BAMBOO RUNWAY CATCHING THE ATTENTION OF BOOK MODA, WHO THEN DECLARED PORTLAND FASHION WEEK AS THE MOST SUSTAINABLY PRODUCED FASHION WEEK IN THE WORLD AFTER TAKING NOTICE OF PORTLAND FASHION WEEK’S EXTENSIVE SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION VALUES.
2007 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK BECAME THE FIRST FASHION WEEK TO INITIATE A CARBON MITIGATION PROGRAM PLANTING THOUSANDS OF TREES AND HENCE BECOMING CARBON NEGATIVE IN THE PROCESS.
2008 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK ALUMNA LEEANNE MARSHALL WINS PROJECT RUNWAY.
2008 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK TEAMS WITH BLUE OCEAN EVENTS FOR THE WORLD'S FIRST SUSTAINABILITY PRODUCED GREEN TRADE SHOW. HELD FOR 3 DAYS FROM THE PORTLAND EXPO CENTER TO 20,000 ATTENDEES, IT WAS AN EVENT AND RELATIONSHIP WHICH RAN FOR 7 YEARS.
2009 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK SHOWCASED A CUSTOM SOLAR PANEL AS OUR RUNWAY FROM SOLAR WORLD, THE FIRST FASHION WEEK IN THE WORLD TO DO SO.
2009 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK BUYS “CARBON CREDITS” TO OFFSET THE EVENT’S CARBON FOOTPRINT.
2009 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK’S EXECUTIVE PRODUCER BEGINS WORK ON THE “PORTLAND/CHINA FASHION CONNECTION”.
2009 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK EXECUTIVE PRODUCER BEGINS HIS PERSONAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR THE PORTLAND ART INSTITUTE.
2010 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK'S EXECUTIVE PRODUCER PRODUCED LADY GAG'S PRE-CONCERT FASHION SHOW FOR LADY GAGA AND THE MODA CENTER.
2010 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK EXECUTIVE PRODUCER IS ASKED TO RUN FOR MAYOR OF THE CITY OF PORTLAND, OR BY A CONSORTIUM OF LOCAL BUSINESSMEN, WHICH HE POLITELY DECLINED.
2010 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK EXECUTIVE PRODUCER IS ASKED TO HEAD THE OFFICIAL OFFICE OF PORTLAND FASHION, WHICH HE DECLINED AS WELL.
2011 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK ALUMNUS SETH AARON WINS PROJECT RUNWAY.
2011 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK EXECUTIVE PRODUCER IS ASKED TO PRODUCE A FASHION RELATED EVENT FOR KATY PERRY BUT WAS ALREADY PRODUCING ECOPALOOZA THE WORLD’S FIRST 100% SUSTAINABLE AND SOLAR POWERED FASHION SHOW AND WAS UNABLE TO DO SO.
2011 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK IS NOMINATED FOR MOST SUSTAINABLE COMPANY IN OREGON BY THE FRIENDS OF THE COLUMBIA GORGE.
2011 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK EXECUTIVE PRODUCER IS NOMINATED FOR “THE BEST AWARD” FOR LOCAL PORTLAND BUSINESS.
2011 THE EXTIRPATED COHO SALMON RETURNED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER 40 YEARS TO THE UPPER REACHES OF THE JOHNSON CREEK WATERSHED WHERE OUR CARBON MITIGATION PROGRAM RETURNED STREAM SIDE CONDITIONS BACK TO NATURAL LEVELS.
2012 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK EXECUTIVE PRODUCER TOD HUNTER FOULK RESTRUCTURES THE COMPANY, EJECTING BOTH FORMER EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS PRANSENJIT TITO CHOWDHURY AND CHRISTOPHER JAIME CONE FROM THE ORGANIZATION.
2012 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK CREATES A TOXIC FREE, TRANSPARENT ENVIRONMENT AND RESTRUCTURES FOR A RELAUNCH IN 2013.
2012 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK EXECUTIVE PRODUCER CREATES, WRITES AND PRODUCES “THE PORTLAND FASHION AND STYLE AWARDS“ HELD FROM THE ARLEEN SCHNITZER CONCERT HALL.
2012 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK EXECUTIVE PRODUCER BEGINS WORK ON A 4 PART TELEVISION COMMERCIAL SERIES FOR KPDX FOX 49 PORTLAND’S LOCAL FOX AFFILIATE.
OCT OF 2012 PEI PEI SUN, MODEL AND WRITING FOR TIME MAGAZINE, DECLARES PORTLAND FASHION WEEK AS THE BEST INDIE FASHION WEEK IN THE USA. A TITLE HELD EVER SINCE.
2012 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK ALUMNA GRETCHEN JONES WINS PROJECT RUNWAY.
2013 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK EXECUTIVE PRODUCER TOD HUNTER FOULK EARNED AN EMMY FOR “BEST LEAD IN TO A DAYTIME NEWS SHOW’’, WITH HIS PRIOR WORK ON PRODUCING THE 4 PART COMMERCIAL SERIES IN 2012. DEBUTING DURING THE SUPER BOWL 2013 HALF-TIME SHOW.
2013 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK ALUMNA MICHELLE LESNIAK WINS PROJECT RUNWAY.
2015 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK TEAMS WITH THE U.S. DEPT. OF STATE IN THE "YOUNG LEADERS OF THE AMERICAS INITIATIVE" MENTORING LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN ISLAND NATION FASHION DESIGN ENTREPRENEURS. WITH PORTLAND FASHION WEEK’S EXECUTIVE PRODUCER BEING INVITED TO NO LESS THAT 16 NATIONS TO PRODUCE ANNUAL FASHION EVENTS FOR THOSE COUNTRIES IN THE PROCESS.
2015 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK BECAME PLASTICS FREE.
2015 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK BECAME CRUELTY FREE.
2015 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK CEASES PURCHASE OF “CARBON CREDITS” BELIEVING A BETTER USE OF FUNDS IS IN SUPPORT OUR THE COMPANY’S CARBON MITIGATION PROGRAM.
2015 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK BECAME THE TEMPLATE FOR THE CFDA'S KINDER, GENTLER AND NON PREDATORY FASHION WEEK BUSINESS MODEL.
2015 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK DECLARED THE WORLD'S ONLY CARBON NEGATIVE FASHION WEEK BY THE HUFFINGTON POST.
2016 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK BEGINS WORKING WITH ALLIED GLOBAL MEDIA COMPANY PROMOTING HOLLYWOOD FILMS. WE JUST COMPLETED OUT 15TH CAMPAIGN WITH THEM SEPT. OF 2022.
2016 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK BEGINS AN ANNUAL CHARITY GOLF TOURNEY.
2016 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK WAS INTRODUCED TO THE HOLLYWOOD PRESS CORPS, WITH A FEW NEAT THINGS IN 2023 TO CULMINATE FROM THAT FORTUNATE EVENT.
2017 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK IS APPROACHED BY ANTHROPOLOGIE TO PRODUCE “THE PORTLAND COLLECTION” FEATURING LOCAL APPAREL DESIGNERS.
2019 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK BECOMES A SIGNATORY OF THE PARIS ACCORDS ON CLIMATE CHANGE.
2019 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK BEGAN THE "NEW AND EXPECTING MOMMIES' FUND" HELPING AT RISK YOUNG MOTHERS MEET MONTHLY LIVING EXPENSES.
2019 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CO-HOSTS ALONG WITH JORDAN SCHNITZER, THE JAPANESE LIVING TREASURE MULTI-MEDIA ARTIST NORITAKA TATEHANA (FAMOUS AS LADY GAGA’S HEELLESS SHOE DESIGNER) RECEPTION FROM THE JAPANESE GARDEN, HONORING TATEHANA SAN’S FIRST EVER VISIT TO THE USA.
2020 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK UTILIZED PREVIOUS CONTINGENCY PLANS REGARDING SUSPENSION OF EVENTS AND WAS ABLE TO HOLD THE PORTLAND FASHION WEEK 2020 SERIES DESPITE SHUT DOWNS WHILE FOLLOWING ALL CDC GUIDELINES. UNLIKE ALMOST ALL OTHER INTERNATIONAL FASHION WEEKS WHICH HAD TO CANCEL.
2021 MARKED OUR 20TH ANNIVERSARY.
2022 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK DEBUTED ‘‘SHELTER SUITS’ STEALING FROM PARIS.
2023 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK PLANTS OUR 15,000TH TREE.
2024 PORTLAND FASHION WEEK BECOMES THE SUBJECT OF A REALITY TV SERIES.
2025 IS PORTLAND FASHION WEEK’S 24TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, WITH SUPPORTING AND ANCILLARY EVENTS HAPPENING ACROSS THE CITY ALL YEAR LONG.
